B1adjective1K

Prepared

UK /["/prɪˈpeəd/"]/US /["/prɪˈperd/"]/

Definition

ready and able to deal with something

In simple words: Ready for something

Examples

She felt confident because she was prepared for the exam.
The team was not prepared for the challenges they faced in the competition.
He came fully prepared with all the necessary documents for the meeting.
Being prepared helps reduce anxiety in stressful situations.
The prepared meal saved us a lot of time during dinner.

Usage notes

Use 'prepared' when indicating readiness for an event or situation. More formal in academic or professional contexts but can be used generally. Avoid in casual or informal settings where simpler terms might be more suitable.

Grammar pattern

prepared + for/about + object

Memory hint

Think of 'prepared' like 'pre-packaged' — everything is ready before you need it.

Collocations

be
feel
seem
perfectly
properly
thoroughly
be prepared for the worst
be prepared for any eventuality
carefully
meticulously
hastily

Synonyms

ready
primed
set
organized
equipped

Antonyms

unprepared
unready

Common mistakes

Confused with 'preparing' — 'prepared' means ready, while 'preparing' means getting ready.
Using it without an object — 'prepared for' should typically be followed by something specific.
Incorrectly saying 'prepared to' when 'prepared for' is needed.